Lectin-Functionalized Polyethylene Glycol for Relief of Mucosal Dryness

• The importance of lubrication between oral surfaces provided by the salivary film is most acutely apparent when it is disrupted, a prevalent consequence of salivary gland hypofunction experienced with aging, a symptom of certain diseases, or a side effect of some medical interventions. Sufferers report difficulty with speech and oral food processing and collectively is detrimental to quality of life. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely employed as a successful biocompatible boundary lubricant in engineering and biomedical applications. It is hypothesized that the immobilization of PEG to biological materials such as oral epithelial cells and tissue can mimic the salivary film and provide durable relief from the symptoms of mucosal dryness. To do so, PEG is functionalized with a sugar binding lectin (wheat germ agglutinin) to enhance epithelial adhesion through lectin-sugar interactions. Retention and lubricity are characterized on an ex vivo oral tissue tribology rig. WGA-PEG coats and retains on mucin films, oral epithelial cells, and porcine tongue tissue, and offers sustained reduction in coefficient of friction (COF). WGA-PEG could be developed into a useful topical treatment for reducing oral friction and the perception of dry mouth.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Biocompatibility

Cells

Food processing

Friction

Medical applications

Polyethylenes

Proteins

Tissue

Tribology

Boundary lubricants

Dry mouth

Epithelial cells

Functionalised-polyethylene glycol

Lubrication

Medical intervention

Mucosal dryness

Quality of life

Salivary glands

Side effect

Polyethylene glycols

macrogol

mucin

wheat germ agglutinin

lectin

aging

animal tissue

Article

cell adhesion

controlled study

epithelium cell

ex vivo study

human

human cell

lubrication

mouth epithelium

mouth mucosa

nonhuman

pig

protein carbohydrate interaction

saliva

salivary gland disease

speech disorder

animal

metabolism

xerostomia

Animals

Lectins

Swine

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)